AEQUIMELIUM,
a great place in Rome before the Temple of the Goddess Tellus, at one end of the Street call'd Execrable. This place was so call'd from Saptimus Melius, a Ro∣man Knight, who had a House there which was raz'd to the ground by the Sentence of the Dictator L. Quintius Cincinnatus, because he aim'd at usurping the Sovereign Power, by be∣stowing Largesses on the People. L. Minutius, Commissary General of the Provisions, disco∣vering the secret Intrigues of Melius, gave no∣tice of 'em to the Senate, who judg'd it an Af∣fair of so great consequence, that immediately they created a Dictator, call'd Cincinnatus. The next day after Melius was cited to answer the Accusation, but he refus'd to appear, and endeavour'd to make his escape, but was pur∣su'd and kill'd by Servi••ius. The Dictator or∣der'd that his House should be raz'd to the ground, and that no person for the future should build-upon the place where it stood: And to perpetuate the memory of this Perfi∣diousness of Melius and of his Punishment, the place was call'd ever after Aequimelium, quasi ab aquata domo Malii, pro domo sua. Cicero, in his Oration, relates the Story thus; Melii regnu•••• appetentis domus est complanata, & quid aliud aquum accidisse Meli•• P. R. judicaret? Nomine ipso